The United States and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in tensions that threatens a tenuous ceasefire.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the situation remains volatile, stating, "the ceasefire is not over," despite ongoing efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
The incident occurred as U.S. forces and commercial vessels they were escorting faced attacks from Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hegseth noted that the Department of Defense anticipates "some churn at the beginning" of its "Project Freedom" initiative, which aims to secure safe passage through the critical shipping corridor.
The renewed hostilities come amid a backdrop of stalled diplomatic efforts.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with a new Iranian proposal to end a two-month-old war with the U.S. and Israel.